Education makes a person gain knowledge, become more aware of happenings, communicate better, acquire a better perspective and become self enlightened and civilised. The job of a politician requires the capability to take policy decisions such as approval of regional plans or deciding which industry is to be promoted for the best utilization of local manpower or which infrastructure is to be set up on priority keeping the future in mind. Sustainable development is also the main issue to be kept in mind while planning any developmental issues. This requires a good communication between the planner and the executor. Politicians also have to be able to communicate fluently with academicians, industrialists, policy-makers to get the best possible output in minimum amount of time. Directors and officers in government departments require a minimum qualification. A doctor if found practicing without adequate qualifications, is imprisoned because we cannot risk the lives of hundreds of people at the hands of an unqualified person who is likely to take incorrect medical decisions. A politician affects the lives of not hundreds but millions of people. If so, why should'nt there be a need to set a minimum education criteria for politicians? Certainly, just as even a highly qualified doctor may cheat humanity by using his profession for illegal trade of human body parts, higher education does not guarantee loyalty towards the society.

It will be interesting to see the truth in the qualifications of current Goan politicians. Goa has had several educated MLAs. A glance at the declared list of educational status of MLAs shows that we have several graduates. Some prefer not to disclose their qualifications and some others have blatantly lied. Key ministries like Health, Education, Industry, Finance, etc. cannot be managed effectively without sufficient knowledge on the subject. With a literacy rate of 87%, the average qualification of Goan MLAs is graduation in the respective fields which is far better than most of the states of the Indian republic. One major factor for this being only 40 seats in the Goa Assembly.

The current Chief Minister of Goa Digambar Kamat is a Science graduate which is the average qualification of the Goan MLAs. The Chief Minister holds the Ministry of Finance which is not a good choice for him as per his qualification. Finance can be better handled by an economist or a management student. Goa has a debt of about 7500 crores due to corruption and wrong policy decisions for which cognizance has to be seriously taken. The Chief Minister holds the ultimate responsibility of the state and hence it is imperative for him to possess qualifications for all-round knowledge of administrative concepts. Former CMs Ravi Naik and Churchill Alemao have not declared their qualifications.

Contrast this with former chief minister Manohar Parrikar is a B.Tech. from IIT Bombay. He was the only IITian who became the Chief Minister in the History of India. His educational background is reflected in his all-round knowledge of technological and environmental issues as well as administrative efficiency. His contacts with some of the world's leading industrialists like Nandan Nilekani come from IIT. Some of the revolutionary schemes launched in the BJP tenure could succeed due to efficient management of finances.

In-built qualities like honesty and intelligence are necessary, but the acquired quality of education gives an added advantage to a policy maker. Knowledge of law, economics, business and management are highly desirable for a good politician. It is equally important to be able to learn from history and apply the knowledge to modern-day situations so as to not repeat the mistakes of the past. Educational Qualification is an essential requirement. But even more important, vital, of utmost value is the 'CHARACTER' of the person or persons who are representing the "PEOPLE OF GOA" in various houses of the Indian Republic.

Our country is going through rapid changes in the infrastructure. We witnessed a positive transformation of Panaji city during IFFI 2004. On the other hand a lot of changes were expected in Goa due to implementation of Regional Plan 2011 which was dropped as a result of widespread opposition throughout Goa as people realized it would harm teh state. We really need to think about the people who plan these massive projects. A PWD minister is no engineer to plan such projects. Just signing incoming files and forwarding it is not the job of a minister without knowing what the project is about and what will be the outcomes of it.

With the changing educational trends in Goa and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, our state is set to have a very good literacy rate in the years to follow. With our students aiming at the sky and qualifying in IIT JEE, AIEEE, CAT, GATE & other entrance exams we are bound to have a good talent pool. But the ministers implementing all the educational policies are not having enough educational qualification nor a good vision for proper implementation of the policies. The mid day meal saw lot of criticism due to poor quality of food & giving free books to students who can afford it is simply waste of the govt. money. Our education minister's declaration that he carries a S.Y.B.A. degree has been challenged by citizens who claim that he was just 7th grade pass. The ambitious Cyberage scheme which was welcomed by all the students but it has been cancelled since this financial year. We have to reach a level where citizens can avail information from government officials over email. Every complaint filed will get assigned to an official and can be tracked by citizens. MLAs will respond to public grievances over email. For this, MLAs have to be computer-literate. We can no longer afford representatives like an education minister who proudly claims that he cannot even use social networking sites.

No significant steps were taken to improve the tourism industry. Goa only got negative publicity in the recent few years. The ex Tourism Minister was just SSC pass & was involved in several controversies regarding the state of Goa. A minister who is not knowledgeable enough cannot appreciate the seriousness of the department. Reading out speeches prepared by a personal assistant or secretary and taking decisions that gives themselves maximum personal gain does not benefit the state. It is important for voters to identify the candidates who have general awareness of the state's issues and administrative calibre rather than the ones who promise to do 'Aamchi (illegal) kama'.

Around liberation, conditions were different. The country's economy was not globalized. Exposure to the rest of the world was limited. Hence someone with good ethics, nationalist spirit and basic education could manage the state. Now, due to the dynamics of economy and the progress made by rest of the world, leading the state is much more challenging. Representative require a breadth of knowledge if they have to do justice to their duty. We need a politically educated voting public who do not cast their vote purely on the basis of religion or on the basis of caste, or in search of short term gains like cash, alcohol, sewing machines etc. or for medium term gains like temporary government jobs. Until the voters are educated and are seriously concerned about development of the state it is incorrect to expect educated MLA's to be elected to the house. We would be risking the future of our beautiful state and the generations to come by electing unqualified people to the Goa Assembly and be resulting chaos.